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Early American Tower Clocks

by Frederick Shelley (NAWCC Special Order Supplement No. 2, 1999). 8-1/2" x 11" hardcover with slip case, 236 pages, over 250 illustrations, with a glossary and an index.

All tower clocks are public clocks. The golden age of American tower clock craftsmanship was from 1726 to 1870. Early tower clocks were large, crude, expensive, and accurate only to the nearest hour; typically, their only decorative elements are the gilt hands that are exposed to view, with none of the furniture or jewelry associated with domestic clocks and watches.In Part One Shelley details chronologically the surviving tower clocks and their makers. Part Two lists alphabetically by name all known makers, dealers, and other persons associated with American tower clocks from 1660 to 1998.